THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1912. IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15055, 26 July 1912, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1912. IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

In both Lords and Commons, during the debates on the naval question) stress was laid upon the participator by the Overseas Dominions in Imperial affairs and upon colonial representation in tho Councils of the Empire as a necessary result of this participation. Tho attitude oJ Canada in the matter had beet already defined by Mr. Borden, whc openly claimed a voice upon the foreign policy of the United Kingdom in return for naval assistance. This claim has been cordially recognised both by the British Government and by the leaders of the British Opposition, so that the speedy formation of a representative Imperial Council appears to be assured. The exact form of such a Council is a mere matter of arrangement, and is likely to be quite unostentatious, the Imperial system lending itself easilj to important developments without any necessity for tliat definite fixing of relative power required by States which work under a written Constitution. Whatever the form of this Imperial Council may be, it must develop into a body which will control the declaration of war and the making of offensive and defensive treaties, and which must ultimately dominate the entire foreign policy of the Empire. From such a momentous development upon the existing order of things grave changes in the relation of the Overseas Dominions to the Mother Country must result; Our share in the burden of defence, and our responsibility to the central authority, must increase in proportion to our increasing power in Imperial affairs. Whether the step is wholly desirable will possibly be questioned by a considerable colonial section, for British colonies have long existed in a happy state of irresponsibility and have received the fullest advantage from the Imperial connection without being weighed down by the great cost of maintaining effective defence. The coming change in the Imperial organisation is not, however, due to any designed or intentional statescraft. It is the inevitable result of the inability of the Mother Country to bear alone the stupendous cost of modern armaments and of the instinctive rallying to her side of daughter States which *owe so much to her generous colonial policy The pressure of Germany has not only compelled Britain to make unprecedented sacrifices but is actually calling a new Imperial organisation into existence. The persistent attempts of many broad-minded colonial statesmen to secure the establishment of an Imperial Council might have proved futile had not their aims been thus unexpectedly assisted by the imperative requirements of national self-preservation.

The recent naval debates will thus become historic as the initial point of closer Imperial organisation, an incident which will be remembered for many years and possibly many centuries. Apart from this, the debates are unique in British history owing to the unprecedented acknowledgement, during a period of profound peace, that vast preparations are compelled by the action of a nominally friendly Power, named by Ministers and frankly commented upon ,by members. It is officially stated that the British navy must be increased and strengthened because of German navy building, the deduction being clear that Germany is a possible enemy and that the safety of the Empire depends upon its ability to cope with her. The vice-president of the German Reichstag informs the world that " war between Germany and Britain is unthinkable" and that " Germany is merely providing for the gxowth of her ever-increasing world commerce." These are pleasant words but it is less assuring to know that Germany provides for the growth of her world-commerce by massing her battleships in the North Sea. There the two greatest navies of Europe

Lie watching one another, the British navy— long since a great oceanpatrolling. organisation—having been steadily concentrated at that point because Germany apparently aimed at naval supremacy in those waters. British statesmen—among them many who are exceedingly predisposed to. regard Germany as a most friendly State—have'failed to obtain from Berlin any satisfactory explanation of German naval intentions. British Ministers have invited - Germany to join in a reduced rate of navy building, and this without the slightest success. It is therefore reasonable enough to think that Germany's naval ambitions constitute a distinct menace to the British i Empire, and that the huge naval expenditure of the United Kingdom, being wholly defensive, is entirely justified. Great as this expenditure now is, and supported as it may be by colonial action, many l - British critics regard it as insufficient; while Lord Roberts asserts that the army is quite unprepared for emergencies. The outlook, therefore; is for even greater naval expenditure in the future than in the past, and this must sooner or later lead to war or revolution. The crushing burden of armaments may so irritate the British people and so perplex chan-r. cellors that war may be considered the least of two evils, particularly if war becomes generally regarded as quite unavoidable in the end. If war should not occur, the indignation of overtaxed masses at what they may then regard as deliberate squandering of hundreds of millions of pounds may turn against the national government and result in a great social upheaval. In either case the future cannot be regarded as cloudless, and is not made easier by the possibility that German preparations are really directed against the Monroe Doctrine of the United States and not against British naval supremacy. As long as the Monroe Doctrine is upheld Germany cannot hope for territorial .'. acquisition in South America, while she might reasonably expect to acquire large areas in Brazil and Venezuela if the Monroe Doctrine could be broken down. It is strange, however, that if British naval supremacy is not to be attacked, Germany cannot satisfy „as to her intentions a British Cabinet which is notoriously pacific in incli- ' nation and constitutionally opposed to great naval expenditure.